- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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4 out of 5
It's pretty clear that what we have here is an overblown and factually shaky version of the events surrounding the assassination of John F Kennedy. It's also more than obvious that director Oliver Stone takes his self-appointed position as the chronicler of recent US history far too seriously to be objective or concise. Yet, before you dismiss this review as just another conspiracy against Stone and his star Kevin Costner, let's remember that the cover-up theory has lost none of its fascination more than 40 years after the event. Whether you believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone on 22 November 1963 or whether you adhere to the accomplice theory, this is a compelling and persuasively staged conspiracy thriller. Stone himself doesn't go along with all of New Orleans DA Jim Garrison's conclusions, massaging the facts here and there in the interests of drama and his own suspicions. But what's so remarkable about the film is how deftly Stone conveys such a wealth of information and how he manages to ensure that every character makes an impact, no matter how short their screen time. The Oscar-winning photography and editing are superb, and the ensemble is a triumph of casting. It's a clear case of unmissable cinema.
Plot Summary
Historical thriller based on events surrounding the assassination of President John F Kennedy, starring Kevin Costner. On 22 November 1963, President Kennedy's death changes America for ever. Initially, an angry and saddened nation is satisfied with the guilt of Lee Harvey Oswald. But, as the years pass, unease, disillusionment and cynicism set in. New Orleans prosecutor Jim Garrison is convinced of a conspiracy, and sets out to prove it.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Jim Garrison
- Kevin Costner
- Liz Garrison
- Sissy Spacek
- David Ferrie
- Joe Pesci
- Clay Shaw
- Tommy Lee Jones
- Lee Harvey Oswald
- Gary Oldman
- Lou Ivon
- Jay O Sanders
- Bill Broussard
- Michael Rooker
- Susie Cox
- Laurie Metcalf
- Al Oser
- Gary Grubbs
- Dean Andrews
- John Candy
- Jack Martin
- Jack Lemmon
- Senator Russell Long
- Walter Matthau
- Guy Bannister
- Edward Asner
- Colonel X
- Donald Sutherland
- Willie O'Keefe
- Kevin Bacon
- Jack Ruby
- Brian Doyle-Murray
- Rose Cheramie
- Sally Kirkland
- Marina Oswald
- Beata Pozniak
- Bill Newman
- Vincent D'Onofrio
- Earl Warren
- Jim Garrison
- Numa Bertel
- Wayne Knight
- Carlos Bringuier
- Tony Plana
- Oswald impostor
- Frank Whaley
- Beverly Oliver
- Lolita Davidovich
- General Y
- Dale Dye
- Lee Bowers
- Pruitt Taylor Vince
- Leopoldo
- Tomas Milian
- TV newsman
- Bob Gunton
- Narrator
- Martin Sheen
Crew
- Director
- Oliver Stone
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